While definitely light reading, this book is a welcome addition to many categories:
- early-chapter-book
- main character is Colombian
- story not set in U.S.A.
- not formulaic
- focus on learning (and learning to love) speaking another language
- pushing through challenges

I don't feel as invested in Julia and her life as I do in, for example, Anna Hibiscus, but this book is one I am happy to add to my collection and to recommend to others.